Wildfire Research Assistant

Staff - Union

Job Category

CUPE 116

Job Profile

CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 1

Job Title

Wildfire Research Assistant

Department

Research | Daniels Lab | Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences | Faculty of Forestry

Compensation Range

$4,147.00 - $4,350.00 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date

October 8, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Aug 31, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
The wildfire research assistant (WRA) will collect data at sites throughout BC and contribute to data entry, preparation, sample analysis and research logistics.

Organizational Status
This position is in the new Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, led by Dr. Lori Daniels in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences. The WRA will support research by Dr. Daniels and her post-docs and graduate students; they will be assisted by undergraduates on some projects.

Work Performed
Core responsibilities:

- Contribute to field work at sites throughout BC to collect data on forest structure and dynamics, forest fuel complexes, including sampling before and after proactive fuel treatments
- Lead field work on plant composition by establishing plots at pre-defined locations, identifying species, estimating their cover, and collecting samples to determine biomass
- Enter data, format data for analyses and prepare data summaries; prepare, measure, and cross-date tree-ring samples; organize and archive tree ring data, samples and metadata
- Coordinate logistics for field work, conferences and knowledge extension (travel, accommodations, etc.)
- Assist with experimental prescribed and cultural burns as an observer and to collect data pre/during/post fire
- Assist the coordination of screening and interviews of potential undergraduate research assistants and teach them core field skills

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The WRA will have access to Dr. Daniels/post-docs/grad students to help make decisions in the lab or via phone or inReach text messaging when in the field. However, they will need to make decisions about safe conditions to complete field work (e.g. access to mountainous sites, inclement weather, air quality due to smoke) based on field safety plans OR make made decisions to modify sample designs or methods based on field project protocols.

Supervision Received

Dr. Daniels and her postdocs/graduate students will provide primary supervision in the field and lab. Training will be provided for the skill set needed for project. Updates will be provided on request or as needed as projects evolve.

Supervision Given
For repetitive tasks (e.g., plant cover plots and tree ring measurements) the WRA will supervise undergraduate research assistants.

Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation and a minimum one year of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Willingness to learn from and work respectfully with Indigenous Knowledge Holders and collaborators
- Willingness to share living spaces with research team members including Daniels, postdocs, grad students and undergraduate research assistants (each individual will have private sleeping space, but shared kitchen, living room and bathrooms)
- Strong forest mensuration skills and ability to navigate with a map and compass, as well as GPS
- Strong knowledge of the tree and plant species of BC and ability to use plant keys to verify plant identifications

Preferred Qualifications

Outdoor experience hiking and camping in mountain and forest environments.
Holds at class 5 driver's license and is comfortable driving large pick-up trucks (or is willing to learn).
Experience measuring and crossdating tree-ring samples.
Motivated to work in a diverse team including highly motivated forest ecology and wildfire specialists.